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In a historic event for the country's agricultural sector, the Minister of Agriculture, Limber Cruz, the Director General of Livestock, Abel Madera, the FAO representative, Rodrigo Castañeda and the representative of APHIS/USDA, Jeromy MacKim, presided over the delivery of biosecurity certificates to 13 new pig farms in the Dominican Republic, as part of the National Swine Biosecurity Plan, implemented since 2023.
The plan is part of a collaboration agreement between the Dominican Government, FAO, and USDA/APHIS, aiming to modernize the swine industry and strengthen its value chain.
The strategy seeks to improve biosecurity conditions in both modern and non-technical farms, reducing the risk of entry and spread of diseases such as African swine fever (ASF). To this end, more than 75 key variables are evaluated, including location, infrastructure, pest control, water and feed management, cleaning and disinfection protocols, and transportation control.
The certification of these 13 farms represents a significant step towards the modernization of the swine industry, complying with the biosecurity criteria established in the Plan. This milestone not only guarantees the production of safe, disease-free pork, but also improves sanitary conditions throughout the production chain.
The National Swine Biosecurity Plan has more than 614 registered farms, representing 82% of the national swine production. Diego Rojas Morea, coordinator of FAO's National Biosecurity Plan, emphasized that this result is thanks to a solid articulation between the Dominican government, international organizations, and producers, in a continuous effort to transform the country's agri-food systems. He assured that the certification of these new farms reinforces the commitment to safer, more technified, and resilient pig farming, aimed at guaranteeing a stable and healthy supply of animal protein.
June 13, 2025/ FAO.
